India to express concerns over US military aid to Pak

With Washington doling out annual military aid to the tune of $2.6 billion to Pakistan.

With Washington doling out annual military aid to the tune of $2.6 billion from this year to Pakistan,the prickly issue is all set to be hotly debated in the Capital during the forthcoming visit of US President Barak Obama next month.

While the Foreign Ministry is tight-lipped on the subject,Defence Ministry sources said Washington has been quietly sensitized to the political ramifications in New Delhi on the quantum jump of US military aid to Islamabad. Senior officials feel that the forthcoming visit of President Obama will not only be judged by lifting of exports controls but also the political steps that US takes or intends to take on stabilising Afghanistan and on terrorism emanating from non-state players based in Pakistan.

Although the US announced $2.29 billion military aid to Pakistan over the next five years subject to Congressional approval after the end of third round of strategic dialogue between the two countries last week,there is much to be read in fine print. Out of the total $2.29 billion military aid,$2 billion per year are earmarked for primarily purchasing military hardware under the foreign military funding head. The remaining funds are earmarked for international military education and training fund over five years.

However,according to Defence Ministry officials,the fact is that Washington is now injecting nearly $2.6 billion per year as military aid to Pakistan. The foreign military funding has been increased from $300 million in 2009 to $400 million this year.

A package of $1.2 billion under the head Pakistan Counter-Insurgency Capacity Fund has been pumped this year. The PCC fund,aimed at equipping the Pakistan Army with force multipliers like body armour and night vision devices,was started last year with the seed fund of $700 million. According to sources,Pakistan already got one frigate and 12 F-16 multi-role fighters from the US.

While the Obama administration has not supplied or made commitment to supply any heavy military hardware to Pakistan,the annual injection of $2.6 billion aid to Islamabad has caused heartburns to India. According to Defence Ministry,the question is not about matching Pakistan military capacity building but the instability flowing out of the perception that Washington continues to back Islamabad despite being Indias strategic partner.